K. Annamalai, the former Tamil Nadu BJP president, officially launched We The Leaders Foundation in a large public gathering in Pollachi, a new social project for leadership development, youth empowerment, and community service.
The first conference was held on 12 July, and about 1.25 lakh people attended, the event organisers said. The emphasis was on the idea of a drug-free society, and Annamalai outlined a series of programs that the foundation is planning to take part in in the future.
Annamalai said to the people that "July will be called White Band Month" and volunteers and supporters will go on a campaign to raise awareness about drug use. That is to teach young people about the dangers of drugs and to work with communities to prevent substance abuse.
He also told us that the foundation would devote August to environmental conservation by doing large-scale plantation drives in different parts of Tamil Nadu. “It is to promote environmental responsibility and more public involvement in protecting natural resources.”
One of the foundation's most significant future projects is to open the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics on October 15, the birthday of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The centre will train people on ethical leadership, governance, and public service.
Annamalai said the long-term objective is to train nearly 1.5 lakh future leaders to become ethical leaders and administer a community as well. He said the initiative was to foster responsible leadership among young people, regardless of political background.
Annamalai stressed that the foundation would work on the principles of inclusivity in the future and would be open to people of all religions, castes, and communities. He said that stepping away from his role in the BJP had given him much more freedom to engage with the public in social matters.
In his view, the foundation's primary aim is to contribute to nation-building by promoting civic responsibility, leadership, environmental awareness, social harmony, and not just political activity.
The event also drew attention on social media for the way that participants acted after the conference had ended. Videos circulating online showed volunteers and attendees neatly stacking chairs and cleaning the venue before leaving, but people liked the professionalism and civic responsibility of the participants very much, and we all appreciated it.
The launch of the We The Leaders Foundation is a major change in Annamalai's public life, and the organisation is trying to unite leadership training, social service, environmental initiatives, and youth engagement within a single platform. The programme of the foundation and statewide activities will be announced later this year.
